In a move similar to the European Union’s deforestation-free regulation that took effect in June 2023, the United Kingdom has announced an import ban on products linked to illegal deforestation after two years of delay. The UK will now impose strict due-diligence requirements on importers of beef, leather, soy, palm oil, and cocoa.
Under the new rules, companies with global revenues of at least £50 million and handling more than 500 tonnes of regulated commodities annually must submit declarations proving that their imported goods do not originate from illegally deforested areas.
Despite broad support during last year’s consultation by Defra – the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – the Government has not included coffee on the regulated list, unlike the EU regulation. Rubber, which the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) identifies as a high-risk commodity, has also been excluded.
International NGO Global Witness warned that omitting coffee poses major environmental risks. Analysis by the organization and the trade-data platform Trase revealed that UK coffee imports were linked to forest loss roughly four times the size of the Glastonbury Festival site between November 2021 and July 2023.
Reid stated:
“This leaves the UK far behind the EU, which earlier this year adopted its own regulation covering all deforestation activities – regardless of whether they are considered illegal in the source country. We urge ministers to strengthen the UK’s measures to ensure an end to deforestation caused by commodity supply chains ahead of the 2025 global deadline.”
The new regulation also does not cover the UK’s financial sector, which continues to fund companies involved in illegal deforestation overseas. However, it initiates a nine-month Treasury review to assess how to prevent British banks from investing in such firms.